Serous Otitis Media Treatment
Get your Ear treatment and surgery by the best ENT Specialist in Noida, India
What is Serous Otitis Media?
It is a condition characterised by accumulation of non purulent effusion in the middle ear. It is commonly known as ” fluid in the middle ear”. This fluid is usually thick and viscid ( glue like). Hence this condition is also called ” Glue ear”.
Cause of Serous Otitis Media
The two most important factors responsible for this condition are
- Eustachian tube dysfunction :-This can be caused by a variety of conditions like adenoid hypertrophy, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, benign or malignant tumours of nose and nasopharynx etc
- Increased secretory activity of middle ear mucosa:- This can be caused by seasonal or perennial allergies and even inadequately treated bacterial/viral infections of the middle ear.
Symptoms in Serous Otitis Media
Ear fullness: This may be the only complaint a patient of serous otitis media may present with. Vague ear fullness and discomfort may be a symptom of underlying serous otitis media.
Hearing loss: The patient may present with mild conductive hearing loss. This is usually seen in serous otitis media in adults. Young children may not be able to notice a mild hearing loss.
Diagnosis in Serous Otitis Media
The diagnosis can be made by a combination of clinical examination and a few audiological investigations.
- Clinical examination: On otoscopic examination, the eardrum may look retracted with distortion of the cone of light. Fluid may be visible behind the eardrum as air fluid levels.
- Pure tone audiometry: The pure tone audiometry may show a mild air bone gap suggestive of a conductive hearing loss.
- Impedance audiometry: Because of fluid in the middle ear, the eardrum may show reduced compliance and flattening of the compliance curve.
Treatment of Serous Otitis Media
The treatment consists of:
- Eustachian tube decongestants: These decongestants may be given up to 4 weeks to reduce the oedema of the eustachian tube to increase its patency and maintain the aeration of middle ear.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be required to treat any underlying middle ear infections which may be leading to increased secretory activity of the middle ear mucosa.
- Myringotomy: An incision may be given in the eardrum and fluid may be aspirated from the middle ear.
- Grommet insertion: In long standing unresolving cases of serous otitis media, a myringotomy may be done, fluid may be aspirated and ventilation tube ( grommet) may be inserted in the eardrum to maintain the ventilation of the eardrum.
